Rotary printing-press.



H. F. BECHMAN.

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FlLED MAR. 26. 915.

MHweomm H. F. BECHMAN.

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26. 1915.

Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

' 3 $HEETS-SHEET 2.

Wihhaooao dike-Lump H. F. BECHMAN.

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-26,1915- Patented Sept. 11, 191?.

3 SHEETS SHEET 3.

1 24mm w HENRY r. BECHMAN,

F BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DUPLEX PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

ROTARY PRINTING-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1111, 11917..

Application filed March 26, 1915. Serial No. 17,195.

new and useful Improvements in Rotary Printing-Presses; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My present invention is a novel improvement in rotary web printing presses and its object is to provide a novel press capable of great fiexibilityin operation, and which can deliver simultaneously, if desired, three separate papers from a single deckof printing mechanisms using a single roll of paper and three folders; or by employing additional printing decks and additional web rolls and deliver three larger papers simultaneously; and can also, if desired: by using additional folders, simultaneously deliver a still greater number of papers, of the same or different sizes. My invention in short provides a novel printing machine whereby practically papers of any desired number of pages can be produced up to the maximum page capacity of the press; and any number of papers up to the maximum number of folders employed can be simultaneously produced; and the printed webs can be assembled in a great variety of Ways so that a plurality of papers of the same or different sizes can be simultaneously produced; and one wide web roll will be sufficient for use in connection with each deck of printing mechanisms.

To more readily impart a clear understanding of the invention I will explain same in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate diagrammatically the printing and folding mechanisms of a threedeck press embodying the invention; and when once understood the invention can be readily adapted by those skilled in the art and embodied in connection with various constructions of printing units and folders.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatical sectional elevation of a press embodying the invention and having three decks or tiers of web printing mechanisms, a plurality of folding mechanismsand web guiding and deflecting devices.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic such press.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical end elevation of the front set of folders.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of another arrangement of folders.

plan view of In the example shown, each deck of the.

press contains three printing mechanisms A, B, C, each of which printing mechanisms preferably consists of plate cylinders 1, l, and co-acting impression cylinders 2, 2 The particular construction of the printing couples is not a feature of the present invention, and they may be of any desired kind. The plate cylinders may be adapted to carry any kind of printing surface from which lmpressions can be taken from a web passing between the plate and impression cylinders, and may carry semi-cylindric plates; but I prefer to use plate cylinders adapted to carry singlepage tubular plates such as shown in my ReissuePatent No. 13,129 dated July 12, 1910. The plate cylinders are provided with suitable inking mechanisms 3 and 3* as indicated in Fig. 1 which may be of any desired kind adapted to supply ink to the printing surfaces on the cylinders in the usual manner.

The printing mechanisms A and B (Fig. 2) are preferably arranged in axial alinement transversely of the press, or line of travel of the web; and preferably the gearing for driving these cylinders is located at the inner ends thereof, as indicated in Fig. 2; the said cylinders being journaled in suitably arranged bearings on the main frame of the press.

The printing mechanism C is located intermediate the mechanisms A and B, and is preferably arranged in the same plane as the mechanisms A and B but located at one side of and in rear of said mechanisms as shown in Fig. 2 in such position that the cylinders in mechanism C practically lie intermediate the ends of the cylinders in the mechanisms A and B. In practice this arrangement of printing mechanisms enables the mechanism C to print the central portion of a wide web while the side portions of such web are respectively printed by the mechanisms A and B, and such web can be led to and through such printing mechanisms without lateral deflection thereof.

Each deck may be supplied with web from rolls at one end of the press. Preferably I use for each deck a roll of web as wide the total number of side by side plates on the printing mechanisms A, B, C, in such deck. The web may be divided longitudinally into three portions w, e0 10 after it leaves the .web roll W by means of slitters of the usual kind, located and adapted to properly divide the web before it reaches the printing mechanisms. As indicated in Fig. 2 the left-hand portion to of the web will be printed by the mechanism A; the right-hand portion a of the web will be printed by mechanism B; and the central portion 10 of the web will beprinted by the mechanism C.

The mechanisms A, B, C, in each deck are so disposed that when said mechanisms are fully plated and a full width Web is used the entire wet will be printed in passing through the press fromthe web roll WV to the angle bars without any lateral deflection of any portion of the web. For this purpose the mechanism C is so disposed that the ends of the printing cylinders therein preferably project beyond or overlap the inner ends of the cylinders in mechanisms A and B respectively, so that when mechanisms A, B, C, are fully plated all the web will be printed as described (see Fig. '2) with only the proper margins between impressions disposed transversely of the web.

"fn practice the web- W may be led over suitable guides from the web roll to a roller 4 where it is slit longitudinally by .two slitters indicatedat S and S (Fig. 2) and the portions to and w of the web may be directed over a guide 4 to the printing mechanisms A and B respectively; while the portions w of the web may be directed over uides 4 and 41 to the printing mechanism After being printed by mechanisms A and B the parts 20 and of the web may be directed under guides 4 and 4 beneath the printing mechanisms to the folding mechanism at the rear of the press; and the part to of the web after being printed by mechanism C may be similarly directed under guide a to the folding mechanism at the rear end of the press.

It will be observed that by this construction I am able to feed a very wide web from the roll and print same by means of a series of short cylinders. The use of short cylinders obviates the objectionable springing cr jumping incident to the use of long cylinders and inking rollers when operated at high speed, which results in streaked printing and enables the press to be operated at a much higher speed than would be practical if long cylinders and inking rollers were employed, especially where using tubular plates and in the latter case this construction greatly facilitates plating up and making ready of the press. And it also gives greater flexibility ofproduct, as hereinafter more fully explained.

ero ne Furthermore by making the web printing mechanism in sections, so to speak, transversely of the press, when only small papers are desired, one or more of the printing mechanisms can be cut out of operation; or in case of injury. to any printing mechanism such injured mechanism can becut out ofoperation by the usual means of slipping or declutching the gear connecting such mechanism with the driving shaft, such means being common in printing press construction and therefore not shown.

The several printing and folding mechanisms may be synchronously operated by any suitable arrangement of driving mechanisms, not shown, that may be preferred by the press builder, the kind and arrangement of such driving mechanisms being well known and entirely within the province of the press builder, or designer so far as the present invention is concerned; but each printing mechanism in the press, and each folder should be capable of being disconnected by slip gears or clutches from the driving means so that it can be put in or out of operative condition as desired.

In Fig. 2, three folding mechanisms a, b, 0 are shown as arranged in line with the printing mechanisms A, B, C, respectively. These folders may be of any well known type and are preferably provided with formers and folding rolls at the points of the formers, such folding rolls preferably lying at right angles to the printing cylinders. With this arrangement of folders the parts w of the several webs can be led without lateral deflection from mechanisms A to the folder a; the parts 'w can be led from mechanisms B to the folder 6; and the parts 20 from mechanisms C to the folder c; and when so led each part of the printed web can pass straight to its folder without any lateral deflection. In this manner three papers can be simultaneously printed and delivered; the maximum size of such papers depending upon the maximum size of the respective printing mechanisms and the number of decks employed.

I also provide means whereby all or part of the web printed by any mechanism can be directed to any of the folders; and this is readily accomplished by means of deflectors or angle bars located at suitable points in the paths of the printed webs between the printing mechanisms and the folders, over which angle bars or deflectors the web can be deflected at right angles to its original path until it reaches the line of the folder to which it is desired to lead it, and then it is led to such folder.

For example, referring to Fig. 2, between the mechanism A and the folder a may be arranged an angle bar 5, and the web section w instead of passing direct to'folder a can be deflected over angle bar 5 and led to aero ic another angle bar 5 over which it can be turned and directed to the folder 0; or it may be led past angle bar 5 to an angle bar 5 over which it can be turned and led to the folder b. Similarly the web section w printed by mechanism C instead of being led to the folder 0 can be turned over angle bars 5, 5 and directed to the folder I): or web section @11 can be turned over angle bars 6 and 6* and directed to folder a.

Similarly the web section 'w printed by.

mechanism B, instead of going directly to the folder I) can be turned over angle bars 6 and 6 and directed to the folder c; or turned over angle bars 6", 6 and led to folder a.

In some cases if it is desirable to further sub-divide one or more of the parts w, 'w 'w of the web, so that the sections of each part might be-directed to diflerent folders, additional slitters 8 might be provided between the printing mechanisms and angle bars to split the web sections w, 'w e0 longitudinally; and additional angle bars 7,

7 7 7 and 8 8 may be provided, as indicated in Fig. 2, so that either section of any of the parts w, 'w 'w of the web can be directed to any of the folders.

Further, if desired additional folders might be arranged at one or both sides of the press at the ends of the sets of angle bars, as indicated at F and F, Fig. 2, to which any of the parts of the web can be led direct from the angle bars as will be readily understood. In some cases where more than one deck of printing mechanisms is used all such folders may be simultaneously employed.

As indicated in Fig. 4, instead of having the three folders a, b, c in alineme-nt' at the end of the press, the folders a and 0 might be arranged at the end of the press and the folder F be arranged at one side of the press, folder 6 being omitted. I do not consider the invention in its broader aspect restricted to any specific arrangement of folding mechanisms and angle bars, as the arrangement of these could of course be varied according to the capacity of the press and the location in which it is to be used and the number of papers which it is desired to have simultaneously delivered from the press.

The construction shown in Fig. 3 indicates how the webs w and w after receiving their first folds in the folders a and b for example, might be directed to the folder c; or the web from folder c after receiving its first fold could be directed to the folder 6 or a. The partially folded webs may thus be assembled as more fully explained in my Patent No. 854,142 of May 21, 1907.

I have thus far described the press as if it was a single deck press, but it is obvious that its page capacity can be increased by supplying additional printing decks, which preferably correspond to that already de scribed, such decks being superposed, and three being indicated in Fig. 1. When additional decks are used it is also desirable to provide additional sets of angle bars as above described, such sets of angle bars being indicated at D in Fig. 1. It is not necessary to duplicate the folders for each deck, as additional decks are usually added only when papers having more pages are desired.

If for example three decks are used and each printing mechanism in each deck is of four page capacity (using single page tubular plates on the cylinders) three 12 page papers ,could be delivered by each folder a, b, 0. If the plate cylinders carried semicylindric plates, so that each printing mechanism prints eight pages, three Q- page papers could be delivered at each folder a, b, 0. By assembling various web sections at suitable folders a paper of any desired size can be obtained. Also if desired a multiple of papers of the same or different sizes up to the total page capacity of the press can be obtained simultaneously.

The cylinders in the printing mechanisms A, B, C, are shown as of equal length and two pages long; so that the press is six plates, or six pages, wide; but obviously the cylinders may be shorter or longer as desired. Also the several printing mechanisms may be of the same or different length, or size, and need not all have the same length of cylinders, or all have the same total page capacity; that is the cylinders in mechanism C might be longer than or shorter than the cylinders in mechanisms A or B. Also the cylinders in mechanism A might be longer or shorter than those in mechanism B. Assuming however that each plate cylinder in each mechanism is two pages in length the total width ofa press using three such printing mechanisms A, B, (J, in each deck would be six plates wide, as above stated; and web rolls six pages Wide can be used; this will greatly lessen the number of web rolls required to be handled in operating the press and saves time required for pasting and changing narrow width web rolls.

The machine shown is six plates wide and each web is of sufficient width to supply all of the printing mechanisms in a deck, although a four-page wide and a two-page wide roll could be used and run independently. By the addition of another deck, making four decks in all, there could be obtained four deliveries of twelve pages each, or three deliveries of sixteen pages each. Furthermore, with a press equipped with three folders arranged in line as in Figs. 1 and 3 a combination of three sections could be associated in one folder, 2'. 0., three Gs, three 8s, and three 12s; and any other combination up tothe capacity of the printing couples could be associated. Such a press is especially desirable for Sunday newspapers which are printed in sections for the purpose of getting more outside pages for advertisers;'and in this press different sections could be associated together and cut at one operation, thereby efiecting a great saving of time over the present machines wherein if papers are produced in more than two sections they have to be associated by hand.

While I have shown and described the printing mechanisms A, B, C, as located in substantially the same horizontal plane I do not consider the invention in its broader aspect limited to such an arrangement, for it is obvious that they might be located in different. horizontal planes and yet the wide web could be led therethrough without lateral deflection and simultaneously printed thereby in substantially the same manner and with the same efi'ect that is obtained when such printing mechanisms are arranged in the same horizontal plane.

Another advantage of having the printing mechanisms arran ed in the manner described is that it facilitates plating of the cylinders; and particularly when single page tubular plate cylinders are employed; such for example as shown in my aforesaid reissue patent, as such cylinders can be very rapidly plated, the plates being slipped endwise on and off the cylinders; and. although the press shown is six pages wide, only two plates have to be slipped on or oil each cylinder; and the cylinders in mechanisms A and B can easily be plated from the outer sides of the press, because the gearing for driving these cylinders is at their inner ends; while the cylinders in mechanism C can be easily plated from the right hand side thereof. The cylinders in each mechanism can be very conveniently reached, and

if it is desired to change any plate on any mechanism it is only necessary, at the utmost, to slip two plates on or off the cylinder, instead of four or more, and therefore this construction greatly enhances the speed of plating a wide press. Even when using semi-cylindric plates the short cylinders can be much more quickly plated than can long cylinders.

I have referred to a few of the various modes in which the webs may be printed and assembld in my machine, but have not attempted to set forth all the kinds and sizes of papers which can be produced by such machine as its capability for variation of product is very great, being only limited by the number of decks, the number of folders, and the number of angle bars employed.

What I claim is:

1. In a printing press, the combination of three rotary printing mechanisms arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane two of such printing mechanisms beparents ing substantially in axial alinement, and the intermediate printing mechanism being out .of alinement with the other two printing mechanisms but in axial parallelism therewith- 2. In a printing press, the combination of three rotary printing mechanisms arranged in substantially thesame horizontal plane two of such printing mechanisms being substantially in axial alinement, and the intermediate printing mechanism being arranged to one side of the other two printing mechanisms but in axial parallelism therewith, said mechanisms being adapted to simultaneously print the portions of a wide web without lateral deflection thereof; with means for slitting the web prior to printing.

3. In a printing press, the combination of three rotary printing mechanisms arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane two of such printing mechanisms being substantially in axial alinement, and the intermediate printing mechanism being arranged to one side of the other two printing mechanisms but in axial parallelism therewith, said mechanisms bein adapted to simultaneously print the portlons of a wide web without lateral deflection thereof, the ends of the cylinders in the intermediate mechanism extending slightly beyond the ends of the cylinders in the adjacent mechanisms.

4. In a printing press, the combination of three rotary printing mechanisms arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane, the plate cylinders in said mechanisms being adapted to carry single page tubular plates; two of such printing mechanisms being in substantial axlal alinement, and the intermediate printing mechanismbeing arranged to one side of the other two printing mechanisms but in axial parallelism therewith. said mechanisms being adapted to print difierent portions of a single wide web without lateral displacement of the web.

5. In a printing press, the combination of three rotary printing mechanisms arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane two of such printing mechanisms being 1n substantial axial alinement, and the intermediate printing mechanism being arranged to one side of the other two printing mechanisms but in axial parallelism therewith, the cylinders in said mechanisms being adapted to carry single page tubular plates, the ends of the cylinders in the intermediate mechanism extending slightly beyond the ends of the cylinders in the adjacent mechanisms; with means for slitting the web, and means for folding the printed webs.

6. In a printing press, the combination of three printing mechanisms having their axes parallel, the central printingv mechama am nism being laterally displaced relative tothe outer printing mechanisms; with gearing for driving said mechanisms, the drive gearing for the two outer sets of printing mechanisms being arranged at the inner ends thereof, and the gearing for the central printing mechanism being arranged at one end thereof.

7. In a printing press, the combination of three rotary printing mechanisms arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane two of such printin mechanisms being substantially in axial alinement, and the intermediate printing mechanism being arranged to one side of the other two printing mechanisms but in axial parallelism therewith; with gearing for driving said mechanisms, the gearing for'the two alined sets of printing mechanism being arranged at the inner adjacent ends thereof, and the gearing for the third printing mechanism being arranged at one end thereof.

8. In a printing press, the combination of three printin mechanisms having their axes parallel, the alternate printing mechanisms being relatively laterally displaced, with a plurality of folding mechanisms, and means for directing the sections of the web from the printing mechanisms to the respective folding mechanisms.

9. In a rotary printing press, the combi- I nation of three rotary printing mechanisms having their cylinders in axial parallelism, the central printing mechanism being located .in a plane beside the other printing mechanisms and parallel thereto; with a plurality of folding mechanisms, and means for directing the sections of the web from the respective printing mechanisms to the respective folding mechanisms.

10. In a printing'press, the combination of three printing mechanisms having their axes parallel, the alternate printing mechanisms being relatively laterally displaced, with a folding mechanism in line with each printing mechanism adapted to fold the web printed by such mechanism without lateral deflection thereof.

11. In a printing press, the combination of three printing mechanisms having their axes parallel, the alternate printing mechanisms being relatively laterally displaced, the said mechanisms being adapted when fully plated to print portions of a single wide web without lateral deflection thereof; with a'folding mechanism in line with each printing mechanism adapted to fold the web printed by such mechanism without lateral deflection thereof.

12. In a rotary printing press, the combination of three rotary printing mechanisms having their cylinders in axial parallelism, the central printing mechanism being located in a plane beside the other printing mechanisms and parallel thereto; with a folding mechanism in line with'each printing mechanism adapted to fold the web printed by such mechanism without lateral deflection thereof, and means whereby the Web printed by any mechanism may be led to any folder.

13. In a rotary printing press, the combination-of three rotary printing mechanisms having their cylinders in axial parallelism, the central printing mechanism being lo cated in a plane beside the other printing mechanisms and parallel thereto; with a folding mechanism in line with each printing mechanism adapted to fold the web printed by such mechanism without lateral deflection thereof, and web guides and angle bars whereby the web printed by any mechanism may be led to any folder.

14. In a printing press, the combination of three printing mechanisms having their axes parallel, the alternate printing mech anisms being relatively laterally displaced; with a plurality of folding mechanisms in line with the printing mechanisms and to which the web can be directed from the related Iinting mechanisms without lateral deflection of the web, a side folder or folders at right angles to the first set of folders,

and-means whereby webs may be directed to the side folder or folders.

bars whereby the web may be deflected tothe side folder or folders.

16. In a rinting press, the combination of three prlnting mechanisms having their axes parallel, the alternate printing mech-- anisms being relatively laterally displaced; with a folding mechanism for and in line with each printing mechanism, a folder or folders at the side of the press, and web guides and angle bars whereby any web may be directed to any folder.

17. In a rotary printing press, the combination of three rotary printing mechanisms having their cylinders in axial parallelism, the central printing mechanism be ing located in a plane beside the other printing mechanisms and parallel thereto; with a folding mechanism for and in line with each printing mechanism, a folder or folders at the side of the press, and web guides and angle bars whereby any web may be directed to any folder at the end or side of the press.

1%. In a printing press, the combination of three printing mechanisms having their axes parallel, the alternate printing mechanisms being laterally displaced, the cylinders in said mechanisms being adapted to carry single page tubular plates, and the ends of the cylinders in the intermediate mechanism extending slightly beyond the ends of the cylinders in the adjacent mechanisms; with a plurality of folding mechanisms, and means for directing the sections of the Web from the respective printing mechanisms to their respective folding mechanisms.

19. In a printing press, the combination of three printing mechanisms having their axes parallel, the alternate printing mechanisms bcin laterally displaced, the cylinders in saic mechanisms being adapted to carry single page tubular plates, and the ends of the cylinders in the intermediate mechanism extending slightly beyond the ends of the cylinders in the adjacent mechanisms; with a plurality of folding mechanisms in line with the printing mechanisms, and a folder or folders at the side of the ress and Web guides and angle bars Where- Jy the Webs may be directed to any folder.

20. In a printing press, the combination of three rotary printing mechanisms arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane two of such printing mechanisms being substantially in axial alinement, and the intermediate printing mechanism being arranged to one side of the other two priring mechanisms but in axial parallelism therewith, the cylinders in said mechanism being adapted to carry single page tubular plates; with a folding mechanism for and in line with each printingmechanism, a folder or folders at the side of the press, and a series of web guides and angle bars whereby the Webs may be directed to any folder at the end or side of the press.

21. In a printing press, the combination of three printing mechanisms having their axes parallel, the alternate printing mechanisms being laterally displaced, and the cylinders in said mechanisms being adapted to carry single page tubular plates and when fully plated to print a single wide Web Without lateral deflection thereof, the ends of the cylinders in the intermediate mechanism extending slightly beyond the ends of the cylinders in the adjacent mechanisms; with a plurality of folding mechanisms in line With the printing mechanisms and to which the Web can be directed from the related printing mechanisms without lateral deflection of the web, and a folder or folders at the side of the press and angle bars whereby the Web ma be deflected to the side folder or folders.

n testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

' HENRY F. BEGHMAN.

IVitnesses:

IRVING K. STONE, CHARLES A. GRAMES. 

